July 1st,
1650 saw the birth of world’s first daily newspaper
Einkommende Zeitungen. Although Timotheus Ritzsch first
started it as a weekly seven yearly earlier in 1643 by the
name of Woechentliche Zeitung it appeared only four times a
week.

The daily was
published in A5 size and comprised of four pages with a print
run of 200 copies for subscribers in Leipzig and some abroad
including the Swedish royal family. Originals of the first
edition can be seen archived in the Royal Library of Stockholm
whereas the Leipzig City Archive holds a copy dated 1659.

Power
of Newspapers

The first printed
newspaper was published in Strasbourg in 1605 before which
date newspapers were written by hand, duplicated and appeared
once a week, intended only for the elite such as political
rulers. The advent of printing made it possible for pblicising
political activity by means of the ‘printed newspaper’ to
the masses. Suddenly a large number of people could gain
information about current affairs – precondition for
contemporary democracy to function. The ruling classes were
slow to realise the explosive capacity and opinion forming
power of the mass circulated newspaper.

The
process that began 350 years ago is now an integral part of
our daily life.